 Campaigns > Statewide Pilot Programs > Florida
Florida
CHEJ is working to build a strong, connected base of grassroots groups in Florida to achieve two goals; increase public awareness about the links between toxic chemicals and human health, and to create a strong network of activists that can promote just and progressive state policies.
In 2007, a Florida-based conference steering committee created a strong agenda for our 2nd Annual State Environmental Health and Justice conference. Organizing training took central stage at the weekend, as well as roundtable strategy sessions for groups with similar goals.
The conference kicked off with the launch of CHEJ and FAHIE's Disney Go Green Campaign at a press conference complete with four Dwarves!
The green cleaning roundtable provided participants an exciting opportunity to craft a 2007 - 2008 work plan to move green cleaning in schools, public spaces, and child care centers. The Florida Alliance for Healthy Indoor Environments, created from our 2006 conference, developed a work plan which included: continuing to move Disney World to transition green cleaning in all of their hotels, parks and restaurants; to continue to meet with and educate local schools and child care centers to identify and pilot green cleaning products; and to develop a plan to re-introduce a strenghtened version of the 2007 Florida House and Senate bills on Environmentally Preferable Cleaning Products.
In May of 2007, CHEJ hired an Orlando-based staff person, Heather Walker , to lead the charge on this exciting work.Contact FAHIE to get involved or receive information.
Florida's Clean Energy activists' have had tremendous success in 2007. From May through July three highly opposed, coal fired power plant proposals were denied; in Gainesville, Glades and Taylor County. Activists had been fighting these proposals for several years. On July 13, 2007, Governor Charlie Crist signed three Executive Orders initiating Florida’s energy policy. The Governor also signed partnership agreements with Germany and the United Kingdom outlining an agreement that focuses on climate policies and mutual economic benefits.Governor Crist signed Executive Order 07-126, titled “Leadership by Example: Immediate Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Florida State Government”; Executive Order 07-127, “Immediate Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions within Florida”; and Executive Order 07-128, “Florida Governor’s Action Team on Energy and Climate Change.” Read the full press release.
CHEJ and FAHIE's Disney Go Green Campaign has also been moving along nicely. Since the campaign launch on April 13th, several thousand letters have been sent to the Disney Coorporation, expressing support for the campaign and urging Disney to transition to green cleaners. In June, CHEJ met with Disney's Vice President for Coorporate Enviromental Policy, and were encouraged that they will be moving in this direction. In July, the company announced that all of their hotels will be certified by the Florida Green Lodging Association by Earth Day 2008. On issue area covered by the certification process is Green Cleaning. CHEJ and FAHIE continue to pressure Disney to pass their own internal policy commiting themselves to a transition to healthier cleaning products and practices. To support the campaign, send a letter to Disney today.
In 2005 we held three regional meetings in Orlando, Miami and Tallahassee to learn about ongoing work in the state, and to provide a space for individual groups to share their areas of focus and connect with each other. A working group formed from those meetings and assisted in putting on the 2006 Environmental Health and Economic Justice Conference in Winter Park, Orlando, wherein sixty state and local activists made connections with each other, led trainings and plenary discussions, and participated in workshops.
The conference spurred the formation of two working groups, the Florida Alliance for Healthy Indoor Environments (FAHIE, mentioned above), a group committed to reducing toxic chemicals from children’s environments, and the Clean Energy Future, a collaboration of clean energy activists.
The Florida Alliance for Healthy Indoor Environments, or FAHIE, created an introductory packet of green cleaning materials for schools and childcare centers, and brochures on the impacts of toxic chemicals in traditional cleaners. FAHIE has met with several childcare facilities, a Catholic school, and two janitorial unions to share the information and to stimulate school leadership to explore safer alternatives for maintenance procedures and products
Clean Energy Future collaborated to host screenings of the energy conservation and awareness documentary KiloWatt Ours in thirteen cities across the state. Group members activities and successes battling coal fired power plant construction in Taylor County, St. Lucie and Okachobee; working with legislators for a healthy and responsible state energy plan; fighting to halt off-shore drilling and more, continues to keep them incredibly busy and connected.
Activists on the front lines that work in contaminated communities; block polluting facility construction; work in schools, hospitals and on college campuses, and mobilize for healthy communities, will come together for our second statewide conference on April 13-15 in Orlando. The 2007 conference agenda, created by the Florida Steering Committee, will focus on strengthening grassroots organizing skills. Outcomes from the conference, plans for 2007, and ways to get involved will be added to this page in the coming month.
> See other local grassroots work in Florida.
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